LOUDER THAN WORDS

After transferring to a new high school, an art-loving student faces the challenge of starting over in this collaboration between celebrated YA author Woodfolk and debut author and acclaimed actor Underwood.

High school junior Jordyn Jones is eager for a new beginning. Yet, as a private school transfer student at Edgewood High, a much larger public school, she’s already part of the rumor mill. The anonymous podcast Tomcat Tea, which shares school gossip, spills the news that Jordyn was actually expelled from stuffy Hartwell Academy. But this doesn’t stop Jordyn, who’s Black, from steadily building a rapport with others; she’s eventually surrounded by a compelling circle of friends, including astute Mila and Izaiah, a high-performing soccer player whom she meets in detention. When Jordyn receives a hostile text from an unidentified sender who threatens to expose the truth about her, and Tomcat Tea takes a darker turn, she ultimately must decide if she’s ready to become the person she’s striving to be. This page-turner asks how people can reconcile with their pasts and begin anew. With a relatable protagonist and a diverse group of supporting characters who will have readers both laughing and giving side-eyes, this twisty, Gossip Girl–esque tale set in Washington, D.C., is full of surprises. The clean prose sparkles, especially when characters are at their most vulnerable. The dialogue is warm, funny, and even instructive at times.

A rich, layered story about reconciliation and accountability with oneself and others.